The number of study programs taught in English increases significantly throughout Europe. After Great Britain, The Netherlands provides the most with more than nine hundred programs. At EUR, more than forty master programs are entirely taught in English.
The number of master programs entirely taught in English has increased by 42 percent since 2011, as showed by a study from the ‘IIE Center for academic mobility research’ conducted in ten European countries. Whereas one-and-a-half year ago students could choose from a selection of almost four thousand programs, right at this moment the number has increased to more than five thousand. Students in the sector Business Administration & Economics have most options, followed by upcoming engineers and technicians.
Many options in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is at the forefront, just like during previous years. Those students who would like to have their classes taught in English, may choose from a selection of 946 master programs according to the study, which is an increase of 16 percent in comparison to 2011. The number of international master programs increased the most in Denmark: more than 74 percent, to 327 in total.
Master programs taught in English per country
Source: IIE Centre for Academic Mobility Research
Good English proficiency
The research center relies on data from the website MastersPortal.eu, a database in which students can browse through master programs in Europe. According to them, The Netherlands is ranked high primarily because nearly everyone is proficient in English and its close approximation to The United Kingdom. In other words: “On the one hand there are many foreign students who would like to come to The Netherlands, and on the other hand there are many Dutch who would like to be educated in the English language”, according to staff member Nina Grether.
Rotterdam scoring above average
On average, Dutch universities offer twenty master programs taught in English. At EUR however, more than forty master programs entirely taught in English are offered.
Average number of master programs taught in English per institute
Source: IIE Centre for Academic Mobility Research
The Netherlands is popular
Previous research already indicated that The Netherlands in a popular destination for foreign students. Few however, stick around here after they graduate as lamented by Dutch minister of Education, Bussemaker. According to the study, more than half indicates willing so, but only a fifth actually does so. This limited group of people raises 740 million euro of economic benefits yearly, and therefore the minister puts an effort in retaining more foreign alumni. HOP/TF/LJa
